My Autistic Child

Parenting Children on the Autism Spectrum

This is NOT a sponsored post. I just wanted to write about a service that I’ve found incredibly useful over the past few years and I wanted to share my experiences with others. Today’s blog is all about the wonderful Max Card.

Discovering the Max Card

As a parent of an autistic child, I think it is important to avail yourself of the help and provisions that are available to you. Because of this, I registered my child on the local council disability register shortly after diagnosis. This gives us access to things like Short Breaks and the latest information about services and support.

A few years back, I received one such email; detailing an exciting provision for disadvantaged children. The Max Card is available to foster families and families with additional needs. It enables users to get a discounted admission to many attractions in the UK.

How to Get a Max Card

Max cards are provided by different charities and local authorities around the UK. They may not be available in all areas. However, it is easy to check on the website whether one is available where you live. In our case, our local carer’s centre were giving out the cards. I just popped in and gave my details and payed a small admin fee of a couple of pounds. It was as simple as that! The lady gave me my card to use straight away.

The card is valid for two years but it is very simple to renew. I just popped back into the centre with my old card and got a new one when it expired.

Where Can You Go With a Max Card?

There are LOTS of attractions in the UK participating in the scheme, including the major theme parks. Discounts vary depending on the attraction. A theme park like Alton Towers will typically offer 50% off admission to Max Card holders. Simply enter your card number on the website and you will be taken to a special page with the discounted rates.

At other places, you simply show your card at the gate to access the benefits. For example, at our local crazy golf, we got a free carer ticket. Other attractions include swimming pools, trampoline parks, experience days and pottery making. There is something for everyone.

Max Card in Summary

My family has saved a lot of money on days out using our Max Card and that it why I wanted to tell others about it. It really is a fantastic scheme. Families can use the card until their child reaches the age of 25. The website has a handy list of all the attractions covered by the scheme. You can find the ones near you by putting your postcode in the search bar on the Max Card website.

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